Magazine hammer



y 195.1 I G. F. RENDALL 5 25 MAGAZINE HAMMER Filed Jan. e,"1947 s she'ets-sheet l.

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MAGAZINE HAMMER Filed Jan. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M

E fll I Patented May 15, 1.951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGAZINE HAMMER George F. Kendall, Chicago,Ill.

Application January 6, 1947, Serial No. 720,450

This invention relates to an improved magazine hammer, and inparticular, one that may be used. in driving nails in locations which donot permit facile use of an ordinary hammer.

In this connection it is contemplated that the magazine hammer may beheld by the operator and operated in any desired angular position. Thatis, it may drive nails downwardly or upwardly, or in a horizontaldirection.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved magazine hammerwhich is characterized by comparatively inexpensive construction andsimplicity of operation.

Another object is to provide in a magazine hammer, an improved magazinein which the nails are disposed radially, each nail. touching eachadjacent nail at two places, so that there will be no free movement ofthe individual nails. Thus, the nails, and in particular, the nail whichis in feeding position, are always properly aligned, with the feedingdevice irrespective of the angle at which the hammer is held by theoperator.

A further object is to provide an improved means for transferring onenail at a time from the magazine to the barrel of the hammer.

Still another object is to provide an improved ram arrangement for amagazine hammer by means of which the ram is maintained in alignmentwith the barrel, thereby insuring easy operation, and also to providemeans for locking the ram in place when the hammer is not in use.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and in which like reference numerals designate likeparts, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. l with the rain handle shown in a changedposition;

Fig. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the parts instill a different position;

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the parts shown inFig. 4;

Figs. 6 and '7 are detail perspective views showing the operation of thenail feeding device in greater detail;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along 88 of Fig. 3;

line

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken along line 5 Claims. 01. 146) Fig.11 is a perspective view of the ram locking device; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the ram locking device.

The hammer comprises a barrel I5, a magazine I6, a block H, which ismounted on the barrel, and to which the magazine I5 is secured, and ahandle [8 which is suitably secured to the block. At the upper portionof the hammer is a ram handle IS, the arrangement being such that theoperator maintains the hammer in position, with the lower end of thebarrel against the point in which the nail is to be driven, by graspingthe handle It in one hand. The other hand is then free to operate theram handle IS.

The magazine l6 comprises a circular sector shaped plate 2!] whichextends through 240 degrees, more or less, and as shown in Fig. 4, isprovided with an are shaped groove 2i which is adapted to accommodatethe heads of a series of nails 28. The plate is secured to the block .1by screws 22 and 23, as shown in Fig. 4, and at its lower end the plateis secured with respect to the barrel l5 by means of a suitable bracket36.

A second plate 24 overlies plate 20, and is spaced therefrom by a spacer26, thereby providing a magazine in'which the nails 28 may be disposed.The plate 24 also has a groove 25 which is opposite to the groove 2|,thereby forming a double groove for the nail heads. The plates 20 and 24and the spacer 25 are secured to each other by a series of screws 25. inaddition to the.

engages the nails 28 in the magazine, and urges them against the feedingdevice.

The follower 3| comprises a hub portion 32, which surrounds the bolt 29and sleeve 53, and two arms' 33 and 34. Arm 33 extends between theplates 29 and 24 to engage the nails, as shown in Fig. 4, whereas arm 34is disposed without the magazine, adjacent plate 24, and provides.

means by which the operator can retract the follower 3! from operativeposition, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, into its loading position asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A spring 35 serves to urge the follower in a clockwise direction,- asshown in Figqi, wherein.

it bears against the nails 28. The spring 35 is disposed in the spacebetween the sleeve 53 and the hub portion 32, one end of the springbeing secured to the flanged nut 30, and the other to the hub 32. Thus,the nails 28 are urged through the magazine in a clockwise direction.The block I1 is formed in two parts, the part 38 being the part to whichthe plate 20 is secured, as shown in Fig. 6, and the other part, 39,being secured to part 38 by'means of screws 40. The two parts aresuitably grooved to accommodate a portion of the barrel I which is ofsomewhat smaller diameter than the remaining portion of the barrel,thereby insuring that the position'of the" block ll will be fixed withrespect to the barrel.

The nail feeding device comprises-a slide 42 which slides in a recessedportion'M of the'lolock part 39, as shown in Figs. 8 to 10. The slide 42is provided with a bent over thumb piece 4-3, and

is biased into normal position by a spring 44 which surrounds a pin 45,the .pin being mounted in the thumb piece and extending into a suitablebore-in the block-part 39. Thus, the slide is urged into its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 2, said normal position being determined byan 'enlarged portion 46 which engages the block part 39,as'shown in Fig.8.

'A vertically disposed notch 41 is provided in the slide 42, theposition of the notch being such that when the slide is in its normalposition the notch will be in registry with the space between plates 20and 24. As shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the barrel I5 is cut away, asindicated by the reference numeral 43, and the purpose of the slide is'to transfer a nail from the magazine to a point opposite the cutawayportion of the barrel. It will be observed that the slide 42 is providedwith a groove 49, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, which accommodates thehead of the next succeeding nail in the magazine during such time as theslide is being operated to transfer the nail which is in feedingposition. Similarly, a groove 50 is formed in the block part 38, asshown in Fig. 6, to accommodate the head of the nail which is being fedto the barrel.

The slide 62 is provided with a horizontally disposed slot 5|, and theleaf spring 52, having one end anchored in the block part 38, isdisposed within the slot, as shown in Fig. 9. The opposite end of theleaf spring bears against the recessed portion of block 39, whereas theintermediate portion is bowed" toward the cutaway portion d8 of thebarrel I5. The leaf spring engages the nail and forces it laterally intothe barrel l5, and out of the notch 41. Thus, displacement of the slideby the operator serves to transfer, one at a time, the nails from themagazine into the barrel.

The ram handle 19 comprises a short length of tubing 5%, as shown inFig. 3, the upper end of which is closed by a cap 6|. The ram 62 isthreaded at its upper end into the cap 6|, and extends into the barrel I5. The lower end of the tubing 60 is closed by a guide '63 which slideson the barrel I5. The upper portion of the barrel is enlarged, as at 64,to limit the upward motion of the ram and ram handle. Thus, by slidingthe ram handle l9 up and down, the ram is caused to slide in the barrel,and will engage the'head of. a nail which has been fed into the barrel,to drive the same into the piece of'wood against which the lower end ofthe barrel is positioned. The parts'of, the ram handle preferably are ofconsiderable "mass, inorder to provide the necessary'momentum fordriving the nail.-

4 Due to the comparatively small diameter of the bore of the barrel, andthe consequent small diameter and flexibility of the ram 62, it isdesirable to provide the lower guide 63 which keeps the parts inalignment and tends to prevent any binding due to the flexibility of theram.

Means are provided to lock the ram and ram 7 handle in its normal Fig. 1position, in order to facilitate handling of the magazine hammer whenthe device is not actually in operation, and also to facilitate thepositioning of the hammer when held in inverted position. This meanscomprises agroove formed in the guide 63, together with a locking devicefor engaging the groove, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The locking devicecomprisesa pin 65 which is slidably and rotatably .mounted in a bore inthe block part 38. The pin 66 has an eccentrically disposed projection6-? which is formed with an overhang or a catch 68 which is adapted tobe rotated in or out of engagement with the groove 65. A bolt-BB-isthreaded into the under side of the pin 66, anda spring H is confinedbetween the head of the Thus, the" bolt, and a shoulder 78 in the bore.pin is urged downwardly into the bore. A screw 12, threaded into theside of the pin '66, and-extending through a suitable L-shaped slot inthe block 38, provides a means by which the. pin 66 may be raised fromaninoperative flush position,

I 63 as the pin is being elevated. Then the screw T2 is rotatedsideways, as permitted by the 'L- shaped slot, which causes the catch 68to engage the groove 55. when the hammer is held in position and readyto operate, the operator need only flick the screw l2 with the indexfinger of the hand which is grasping the ram handle E9. Thus, the spring1|" retracts the pin and the catch within the bore in the block part 38,where it will not be dam-' aged by subsequent operation of the ramhandle.

It will be observed in Fig. 4 that the dimensions of the magazine withrespect to the nails are preferably such that the nails contact eachother at any two places, namely, at their heads and near their points.Thus, there is no sideways movement of the nails, as might be expectedin a radial type magazine. Furthermore,

the nails will all assume a radial position, and the nail which is infeeding position will be forced by the follower into the notch Al of theslide.

1 Thus, there is no opportunity for the nail to be disposed in aslanting position, partly in the notch and partly in the magazine.

In loading the magazine, the follower 31' is' brought up into dottedline position, in Fig. 4.

A suitable feeding device may be as shown For intube, and the latteragitated until the'shanks of the nails drop through the slot, the headsbeing retained within the tube. are aligned and the tube may be broughtup to the feeding end of the magazine 55, and dropped The arrangement issuch thatemployed Thus the nails released, all as above described. Thefollower will then assume the position shown in Fig. 4 in which it urgesthe whole series of nails 28 in a clockwise direction, the first nailbeing urged into the notch 41 of the slide 42. Let it also be assumedthat the ram handle 5 9 is locked in position, then the operator withhis right hand on the ram handle and his left hand on the handlepositions the open end of the barrel against the surface into which anail is to be driven. Without releasing the grip of his left hand on thehandle [8, the operator places his thumb over the thumb piece 42 anddisplaces the slide, thus feeding the nail into a position opposite thecutaway portion 48. Since the ram 62 is disposed in the barrel at thiscutaway portion, the leaf spring 52 is somewhat flattened. The operatorthen flicks the screw '12, unlocking the ram handle, and withdraws theram handle while the thumb piece til is still depressed. As soon as theram 62 clears the cutaway portion 48 of the barrel, the leaf spring 52forces the nail into the barrel. At this point the pressure on the thumbpiece 43 may be released, causing it to return to its normal position.In the mean-. time, the ram handle is being withdrawn to the limit ofits motion, and pushed toward the handle 18. In the course of itsdriving motion, it will pick up the nail and urge it toward the open endof the barrel and drive it into the wood.

Repeated operations may then be effected at adjoining spots on the woodand it is obvious that it is not necessary to lock the ram untilprevious to each driving operation. If desired, the ram handle may firstbe withdrawn, and then the thumb piece quickly depressed and released,which will serve to feed a nail into the barrel preparatory to thedriving operation.

I claim:

1. A magazine hammer comprising a barrel having a cutaway portion topermit the lateral insertion of a nail thereinto, a ram slidably mountedin said barrel, a magazine spaced from said barrel, slidably mountedmeans for removing one nail at a time from said magazine and bringingsaid nail into a position laterally opposite said cutaway portion, aspring biased follower in said magazine for engaging the last one of aseries of nails disposed in said magazine in order that the flrst one ofsaid series will be urged into engagement with said slidably mountedmeans, and stationary means extending into the path of said nail as itis being displaced by said slidably mounted means for laterallydisplacing said nail out of engagement with said slidably mounted meansand into said cutaway portion of said barrel as said nail is broughtinto said position opposite said cutaway portion.

2. A magazine hammer comprising a barrel having a cutaway portion topermit the lateral insertion of a nail thereinto, a ram slidably mountedin said barrel, a magazine spaced from said barrel, means in saidmagazine for urging a nail into a feeding position in which it isdisposed parallel to the axis of said barrel, a slide having a notchtherein for removing said nail from said magazine and displacing saidnail into a position laterally opposite said cutaway portion, andstationary means extending into the path of said nail as it is beingdisplaced by said slide into the last named position for laterallydisplacing said nail out of said notch and into said cutaway portion ofsaid barrel.

3. In a magazine hammer having a barrel, a

block mounted on said barrel, and a magazine secured to said block andspaced from said barrel, a slide slidably mounted in said block andcapable of assuming a normal position and a dis placed position, saidslide being provided with means for receiving a nail from said magazinewhen in normal position, and for transporting said nail into a positionlaterally adjacent said barrel, said barrel having a cutaway" portionadjacent said slide to permit lateral insertion of said nail into saidbarrel, and means mounted on said block and adapted to engage a nail assaid slide is being moved into displaced position in order to displacelaterally said hail from said slide into said barrel.

4. In a magazine hammer having a barrel, a block mounted on said barrel,and a magazine secured to said block and spaced from said barrel, aslide slidably mounted in said block and capable of assuming a normalposition and a displaced position, said slide being provided with meansfor receiving a nail from said magazine when in normal position, and fortransporting said nail into a position laterally adjacent said barrel,said barrel having a cutaway portion to permit lateral insertion of saidnail into said barrel, and resilient means extending into the path ofsaid nail as said slide is being moved into displaced position in orderto displace laterally said nail from said slide into said barrel.

5. A magazine hammer comprising a barrel, a ram slidably mounted in saidbarrel, and a ram handle for actuating said ram, said ram handlecomprising a tubular member telescopically mounted with respect to saidbarrel, and having a flanged guide for engaging said barrel, said rambeing concentrically mounted within said ram handle and secured theretowhereby reciprocation of said ram handle will cause reciprocation ofsaid ram within said barrel, a block mounted on said barrel, and lockingmeans slidably and rotatably mounted in said block, said locking meansbeing provided with an eccentrically disposed projection, and means forrotating said projection into looking engagement with said flanged guideto maintain said ram and ram handle in a fixed position with respect tosaid barrel, said block being provided with a bore in which said lockingmeans is slidably mounted, and a spring for urging said blocking meansinto said bore so that it will be Wholly received within said block whenin inoperative position.

GEORGE F. RENDALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,631 Crisp Feb. 17, 1891608,555 Nazel Aug. 2, 1898 622,638 Sandbo Apr. 4, 1899 662,898 GrandyNov. 27, 1990 1,106,861 Beadle Aug. 11, 1914 1,146,105 Sabelman July 13,1915 1,219,446 Erickson Mar. 20, 1917 1,514,403 Stepanek Nov. 4, 19241,879,895 Fenton Sept. 27, 1932 2,058,034 Prochiette Oct. 20, 19362,237,458 Thayer Apr". 8, 1941 2,379,826 Peterson July 3, 1945 2,418,118Hamilton Apr. 1, 1947

